BACKSTORY: Thanks to Stephen, the curator of the History of Pharmacy Museum in Tucson, Arizona, I was able to get this information about the Disney/Upjohn partnership:
The Upjohn Pharmacy (1955-1970) was the result of a friendship between Walt Disney and Donald Gilmore, the Chairman of The Upjohn Company. The two men knew each other because they both had homes in a community in Palm Springs, CA, where they lived seasonally. Disney had been looking for corporate lessees and sponsors, so the two companies' partnership happened naturally.
The Upjohn Pharmacy was an incredibly detailed recreation of a late-1800's/early-1900's apothecary shop. The items displayed inside were meticulously collected by Dr. A. Garrard Macleod, a physician who worked for Upjohn and had a passion for medical antiques. In total, there were over 1,000 items featured. The store also had a separate, back-room exhibit that showcased present-day Upjohn. It featured lighted displays with information about the company and its products.
The store was designed by the renowned Will Burtin, and was based on research of existing apothecary shops from the time period Main Street sought to recreate (1890-1910). It seems the reason Disney and Upjohn parted ways was because their relationship was based on Gilmore and Disney's friendship. After Disney died, that connection was lost, and it seems it just fizzled out.
For more Upjohn Pharmacy info, you can visit the pharmacy.arizona.edu/centers/history-pharmacy-museum, which now has the items that were on display at Disneyland!
An anonymous cast member wrote me this tidbit about The Upjohn Pharmacy:
“For a number of years while working at the Park, I would stop into the Upjohn Pharmacy and get small glass containers of free vitamins that were handed out to guests. Still have a couple of the empties to this day...the vitamins were free and the family used them!”
Daveland reader JG remembers, "Mom was always afraid I would knock over the fragile glass bottles. This was the next stop in the sequence as you passed through the Candle Shop and Book Store. There was a little display in the glass case in front of the street window, showing Chinese remedies. They had a little ivory figurine of a reclining woman "En Deshabille," this prop was used by Chinese doctors to diagnose their female patients who were too shy to be examined. The ladies pointed to the parts of the figurine where they had ailments. Mom did not approve of the little naked statue, but Dad told her to relax. Is it more prudish to disrobe for the doctor, or to have an always-naked figurine? I also remember the vitamin pill samples they gave away; little orange balls in a square glass bottle. I would refill the bottle when I got home, but with Chocks, instead of Upjohn. I bet I have one somewhere at home."
